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Ask Marilyn: More on Bedbugs and DDT

A. Barnett of Los Angeles, California, writes:

Marilyn: I'm writing about your answer to the question about bedbugs. (January 13, 2013) You wrote, "After World War II, insecticides such as DDT virtually eliminated these pests in this country, Canada, and Europe." You went on to say, "Did anything bad happen to the food chain in these parts of the world? No." I would like to point out that the use of DDT almost wiped out the American Bald Eagle. I hope you will mention this so that people, ignorance of the facts, will not be clamoring for the reintroduction of DDT to wipe out bedbugs. Marilyn responds:

Consider it mentioned. However, please be aware that the cause of the near-extinction of the American bald eagle is a subject of great controversy. Many experts blamed DDT. Other experts now believe that DDT had little, if anything, to do with it.